After a solid season in 2014 ended in a particularly painful way, the Dallas Cowboys feel like they have unfinished business to take care of. To get back to where they want to be, though, they'll have to navigate a tricky free agency period that could see one or more key contributors hit the market.
While it's obviously a high priority to bring back Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray, the Dallas front office has also set their sights on a number of other free agents around the league. Based on the rumors coming out of Dallas and what we're hearing elsewhere, these are the top three targets for the Cowboys this Spring:
OLB Brian Orakpo
When healthy, Orakpo has been one of the top outside linebackers around...but that hasn't been the case often recently. His injury history is obviously a concern, but it has a silver lining for the Cowboys: the former Longhorn will almost certainly be available for a bargain price.
Orakpo won't get more than a one-year deal for now, and that's another bonus for a team looking to stay flexible and under the cap. While he has plenty of fans in the Dallas organization, it sounds like there are a few concerns that he hasn't played in a scheme like the one the Cowboys run...so while there's mutual interest here, the team might not act on it for a few months until other questions get answered.
FS Devin McCourty
While the Cowboys defense outperformed expectations in 2014, the secondary was still highly suspect. The Cowboys know they need an upgrade here if they want to be a realistic contender going forward, and McCourty is going to be the best free safety available through free agency.
The Cowboys are still evaluating their options at safety, but it sounds like they've already flagged McCourty as a high priority. Stay tuned...
RB DeMarco Murray
Now that the Cowboys have placed the franchise tag on star wideout Dez Bryant, they're turning all of their attention on keeping Murray. The leading rusher in the NFL last season will receive a great deal of interest on the open market, but he's said he wants to return to Dallas - as long as their offer is similar to that of everyone else.
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